Job Satisfaction among Health Professionals in Private Healthcare Organizations in Hail, Saudi Arabia: A Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract

Background: Job satisfaction among health professionals influences retention, performance and quality of care. Saudi evidence comes mainly from public and university hospitals, and little is known about the expanding private sector in the Hail region. This study assessed job satisfaction among health professionals in private healthcare organizations in Hail City and identified associated factors.
Methods: A cross-sectional web-based survey was conducted among 146 health professionals (allied health staff, physicians and administrators) recruited by non-probability convenience sampling from 10 private healthcare organizations in Hail City, Saudi Arabia, between 3 March and 4 May 2026. A 32-item, five-point questionnaire covered nine satisfaction domains (Cronbach's α = 0.978). Data were analyzed with IBM SPSS Statistics version 27 using Mann–Whitney U, Kruskal–Wallis and Spearman tests and multiple linear regression.
Results: Overall, 56.2% of participants were satisfied, 28.1% neutral and 15.8% dissatisfied (overall mean 3.47 of 5, SD 0.86). Work relationships scored highest (3.73), followed by the work itself (3.58) and work culture (3.54). Pay and end-of-service benefits (3.17), working hours (3.26) and recognition and reward (3.35) scored lowest, all in the neutral range. Over a quarter (26.0%) planned to leave their organization within one year. In multivariable analysis (R² = 0.250), longer intended stay (β = 0.389, p < 0.001) and female gender (β = 0.202, p = 0.020) were associated with higher satisfaction. Higher education was associated with lower satisfaction (β = −0.194, p = 0.041), although this was borderline with robust standard errors.
Conclusion: Health professionals in Hail's private sector were moderately satisfied. Relationships with colleagues were a strength, while pay, benefits, working hours and recognition were weak points. Satisfaction was closely associated with intention to stay. Improving compensation, scheduling and recognition may support retention in the expanding private health sector; however, because the study was cross-sectional and used a convenience sample, these associations are not causal, and longitudinal studies are needed to establish whether satisfaction influences actual decisions to stay or leave.